My '95 T Bird is becoming a good worktruck....I have to make a roof rack for it. Annnnnnnnd it has (almost) thecoefficiaent of dragof a vette.

 

i have to point something out, ford is fixing to be on top of everything. research ford alittle and what its building before you make claims. the 2009 f150 400hp hydrolic launch system 35mpg in the city, the fusion what else can you say about it but damn! fastest selling increase in the country, i own one and can say this car gets 27 mpg in the city and 33 on the highway my buddies honda fit gets 2 more mpg small and he only paid 3000 less and he didnt get half what i got with the sport package. just google ford and see what their building. personaly id like to see the oz ranger 4door here instead of the sporttrac and the mondeo damn

 

I'm only going to comment on this because someone else brought this topic back from the dead...hence, I don't feel as bad.

Yayer, your comment doesn't really make sense. I'm going to say this knowing full well you'll probably never read it. That being said, if you see Ford's everywhere, and you're a Ford guy, as is your family, what exactly quantifies Ford as being "a joke". IF they're on the road and in your family, clearly they're doing something productive. Even though they've done minor changes to any of their product line in the last 13 or so years (or however many you said) you and MANY people still continue to buy them. That's really saying something.

Secondly, you need to realize that Ford is competing with cars and trucks that look like they were made for an "overseas market". Hence, in order to be competitive, their styling has to be similar. Now, clearly, being that this post was made in 06 and here it isalmost08, many of your statements are no longer relevant and I'm sure you already know. So, I won't patronize you or insult your intelligence by arguing some of what you said. I will say, have you driven a Ford Lately.

The New Fusion, the Edge, the Taurus X and the redesigned Taurus are all great examples of Ford stepping up their game. Not to mention the ALL NEW redesigned Focus and the much sought after Escape Hybrid. If that's not enough to pawn after, check out the all new 09 Ford Flex, which is poised to take a HUGE chunk out of the Scion xB market. Now, I know some smarty-art can come on and say that the Taurus X and the Taurus are just a redesigned Freestyle and Ford Five Hundred, but have you SEEN them. I mean, I'll be honest. I grew up on Mopar. I normally drive mopar. My next car will be a Mopar. The only Ford I'll probably drive is my wife's and my demo. But, as you can see by my screen name, I am a Ford Lincoln and Mercury sales professional in NY and I gotta say, these vehicles stand out. It's great quality, functionality and appearance.

This sounds cliche, but if you haven't driven a Ford lately, you should.

 

I just thought I would give my two cents concerning Ford quality. I bought a new expedition in 97 and never had a problem with it over the five years I had it. I traded it in on an 02 GMC Yukon that has given me some problems over the five years I've had it, so I am going to trade it for a new 08 Expedition XLT 4x4 soon. I also own an 05 Mustang GT that I've now had for about 2 1/2 years and no problems. From what I've read, Ford has recently gotsome awards for quality and all I can say is that I have had very good vehicles from Ford lately. So I think they are doing something right.

 

Before anyone here goes on a rant that "Ford is a joke", do yourself a favor and visit Yahoo Autos. Look up "2007 Camry" and "Ford Fusion". Roughly the same number of owner reviews (mid-400's), and read how many 07 Camry owners state "This will be my last Toyota". Then judge Ford.

 

New Ranger: It's baffling to ponder why Ford has chosen to abandon the small truck market in the US. The Ranger has always been a great little truck (I own a '94), but it is certainly true the the quality of the Ranger is slipped since the mid-90's. However, Ford has introduced a new and (apparently) much improved Ranger in nearly the rest of the civilized world. Check out any Ford website in Europe (e.g. UK, Deutschland, Italia) or Australia to learn more about the new Ranger. Why not in N. America? I can only guess that Ford hasn't introduced the new Ranger to the N. American market because the new truck is powered by turbo diesel engines that are probably tied to low-sulfur diesel--not available to my knowledge in the US.

Ford is a joke, and they shouldn't wonder why they cannot turn a profit in their own backyard. Aside from full-sized truck development, Ford has failed to seriously invest in the US market. The company's "soul" seems to have emigrated back to Europe.

 

I was a GM/Mopar only person till I got a R&D job at a major gasket manufacturer. The Ford engines we worked on were superior to the GM and they were the common every day ones. I got to work on the prototype 4.6 SOHC there and the prototype GM GenIII when I went to GM(Somebody had to pay for our Ford vehicles). I wasn't impressed with GM's new engine that wasn't even OHC. We've never looked back. Just like clock work we got a new truck/SUV every 3 years with the exception of my 2002 F-150 which I decided to keep after buying it.

 

I would say i have to agree with OP to a certian extent. I do agree ford has kinda gotten lazy as far as competition over the last decade. Each and every one of us know what ford is capable of building if they put their mind to it! As far as the ranger goes, yes it would be awesome to have an all new modern class leading truck, however apparently ford decides not to fix what isn't broken. I honestly believe the fusion was ford's turning point for the better. If ford can build more vehicles to be as attractive and well built, they will be #1 again very soon. Personally, I would LOVE to see a new focus that actually raises the bar, rather than merely reaches it. I'm talking a focus built with the quality of a fusion or lincoln MKZ, class leading 38mpg, and a performance version that would put it years ahead of the competition. $100 says it is absolutely possible if ford would just FOCUS on focus. Someone just needs to light a fire under ford execs and get back the passion. It's almost as if ford waits for the competition to make an advancement and match it which is bad business. BOTTOM LINE: gas isn't getting any cheaper and trucks will eventually be forced to downsize. ford has built their company around trucks, and now that market is losing ground, all they have to do is refocus their ingenuity. I can't wait to see the cyclone 3.7 debut in the F150, and I'm already drooling for the Ecoboost(gay) 2L 275hp I4. It was near suicide to kill the performance focus, they need to bring back a SERIOUS SVT focus and fusion, cut a bunch of fat off the taurus and retune it for police use. An AWD 270-280hp taurus would put the V6 charger and impala wherethey belong, 2nd best. Bring back the competitive passion of the 60s ford. Good luck.

 

I'm thinking about buying a 2009 Ranger - I found this thread (searching for 2009 Ranger). It's funny how everyone here was bashing Ford, now they are only one of the big three left standing. Something to be said about tradition and sticking with what sells.

 

I've never had any issues with ford. They can't be that bad.